Machine for roll forming variable width profiles

ABSTRACT

A roll forming machine in which metal strip profiles may be formed to varying widths, without removal or replacement of spacers. The spindle shafts between side frames are filled in part by spacer bushings which bear against the constant position rolls and hold them in position. Shiftable rolls slide axially on the outer surfaces of these bushings. All the shiftable rolls are shifted simultaneously by an intermediate frame assembly which is cranked to the desired width, and which positions them precisely and reacts their thrust.

June 3, 1975 MACHINE FOR ROLL FORMING 2176115 10/1939 72/181 2,294,3248/1942 Wilkens et 72/181 X VARIABLE WIDTH PROFILES [75] Inventor: LamontR. McClain, Mehlville, Mo.

Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr Assignee:

[22] Filed:

[73] Engel Industries, Inc., Ballwin, Mo.

[57] ABSTRACT A roll forming machine in which metal strip profiles maybe formed to varying widths, without removal or replacement of spacers.The spindle shafts between side frames are filled in part by spacerbushings which bear against the constant position rolls and hold them inposition. Shiftable rolls slide axially on the outer Apr. 17, 1974 21Appl. No.: 461,542

[51] Int.

[58] Field of Search 72/181, 182, 247, 176,

72/178 surfaces of these bushings. All the Shiftable rolls are shiftedsimultaneously by an intermediate frame as- [56] Ref r Cit d semblywhich is cranked to the desired width, and UNITED STATES PATENTS whichpositions them precisely and reacts their thrust.

1,317,581 9/1919 Kipniss et a1. 72/178 10 Claims, 4 Drawing FiguresELL/C PATENTED JUN 3 I975 SHEET PATENTEBJUH3 I975 SHEET MACHINE FOR ROLLFORMING VARIABLE WIDTH PROFILES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Roll formingmachines, used to bend metal strips progressively to a desired profile,may have as many as 12 or 14 forming stations. with upper and lowerspindles and roll assemblies at each.

Heretofore there has been no commercially available roll former machinewhose forming width could be readily varied to achieve any desired widthof forming. In standard machines, it has been known that profileelements which extend parallel to the mid-plane of the machine might bewidened by spacing apart the roll elements used. Variations in formingwidth were effected by stacking thick washer-like spacers between theroll elements. However, this required disassembly of the roll spindlesfrom the machine frames, a difficult, timeconsuming task which could notbe performed by the ordinary workman who fed strip steel to the machine.

Special products might be formed to specific differentials in width byforcing C-spacers on and off the machine spindles. The principleexamples of use of such spacers are the cleat strips used to attachadjacent sections of heating ducts.

One variety of cleat may be prescribed with an element of the profile inthree different widths, at intervals of one-half inch. The rolls on bothupper and lower spindles are divided perpendicular to the shaft, so thatone may remain in a constant position and the other be positioned eitheradjacent to it, or spaced from it by a one-half inch, or spaced from itby a full inch. To provide such spacing, two one-half inch spacers maybe used. Spacers in common use are springy C-shaped pieces, which aredifficult to handle. A more advanced type of spacer is shown in US. Pat.No. 3,444,776 to Frizzell; it discloses a C-shaped spacer having anelastic latch to grasp the spindle shafts.

For forming the narrower width two of such spacers would be mounted onthe shafts outwardly of the shiftable rolls; for the next wider width,one of them would be removed, the rolls shifted a one-half inch, and thespacer inserted in the one-half inch space between the two rolls; andfor the greatest width the second spacer would be similarly moved, withthe roll shifted still farther. Thus for a l2-station machine having 24spindles, to change from the narrowest to the widest of three spacingsrequires removing 48 of the spacers individually, shifting the 24shiftable roll elements individually, and reinserting the 48 spacersindividually. In addition to the time required, the work of changing ismade difficult by close tolerances and narrow working spaces. Even ifthe side frames are loosened, it is still very difficult to change sucha machine; when working on the lower roll spindles, special extractionand driving tools may be necessary; and spacers may be lost in therecesses of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purposes of the present invention are toprovide a roll forming machine with the capacity for infinite changes inwidth of forming, made readily not by a mechanic but by the workman whofeeds such machines, without substantial loss of machine time, andwithout removing any spacer or other part from the machine. Anotherpurpose is to change the spacing of all the rolls on all the spindlessimultaneously in a single operation. A still further purpose, appliedto a machine having two sets of adjustable rolls, is to utilize the samespacingshift mechanism for both sets of rolls. Still further purposeswill be apparent from the disclosure which follows.

Briefly summarizing the present invention, without limiting its scope, lutilize a roll former machine which is conventional to the extent ofhaving at least two parallel side frame assemblies at a fixed spacing,and a succession of pairs of upper and lower rolls spindles mountedperpendicularly thereacross, with a power train to rotate the spindles,and complementary upper and lower roll forming sets. Each roll setincludes an axially-constant roll and an axially-shiftable roll, In thepreferred type of machine utilized, all elements mounted on the spindlesbetween the side frames are slid thereon axially as the spindles areassembled, and their combined width is sufficient to fill the spacing;that is, they hold each other in fixed positions.

Unlike prior machines, the shiftable rolls do not fit directly onto thespindles; instead their inner diameters are sized to fit slidably onspacer members mounted on the spindles. One of such spacer members hasits edge bearing against the constant position roll to hold it inposition. Such spacer members serve as lateral shift paths for theshiftable rolls. The lateral shift path width will at least equal thetotal of the width of the shiftable roll itself plus the lateraldistance over which the roll is to be shifted.

To effect such shifting, I used a shifting frame assembly parallel andintermediate to the fixed frame assembly, positioned adjacent to thesides of the shiftable rolls opposite the constant position rolls.Rotationpermitting means, operable between the shiftable frame and theserolls, retain them in thrust-transferring relation to the shiftableframe, wherever it may be positioned. Simple mechanism is used to shiftthe shiftable frame laterally, thus shifting all the shiftable rollssimultaneously on their spacer members. By this means the width offorming is changed on all of the spindles simultaneously, withoutremoving or replacing any members from the spindles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view, somewhatfragmentary, of a progressive roll forming machine embodying the presentinvention, in which roll elements are shifted simultaneously by movementof an intermediate frame.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view, partly broken away, corresponding tothe front of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the upper right portionof FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of an alternate embodiment, utilizingshiftable rolls on both sides of the movable frame, the portion showncorresponding to that to the left of line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The progressive roll formingmachine illustrated in the drawings is designed to form metal stripsprogressively. It is equipped at each forming station with two sets ofrolls, each for a different profile; and third and fourth sets of rollsmay be added outward of the side frames. The problem met by the presentmachine is to form to a profile having a flat portion of a larger orsmaller dimension. Typical are the strip profiles utilized for joiningadjacent sections of sheet metal ducts. A typical profile, called thestanding S cleat, has a segment which may be formed to a narrow width,to an intermediate width one-half inch greater, or a maximum width oneinch greater. Another type of cleat, referred to as a Government lock,is typically formed to two widths, one three-eighths inch greater thanthe other.

Sets of rolls suited for forming either or both these profiles may beincorporated in the present machine; thus in the modified embodimentshown in FIG. 5 the rolls at the right side are to be used for thestanding S cleat, whereas those at the left are for the Government lockprofile. The present machine is also capable of accommodating othertypes of rolls and is uniquely useful where the width to be formed is tobe infinitely adjustable.

Referring to the plan view, FIG. 1, the present machine is mounted on atable frame generally designated a shown in phantom lines. The machineshown is of the type which has left and right vertical, parallel sideframe assemblies generally designated c, d mounted at a substantiallyfixed spacing b. A succession of pairs of upper roll spindles e andlower roll spindles f are mounted perpendicular to, and rotatable in,the side frame assemblies 0, d; they may be equipped with conventionalupper and lower roll forming sets mounted between the frame assemblies0, d, such as the sets g, h shown in FIG. 3; and auxiliary roll sets maybe added outward of the frame assemblies. Power train means is providedto rotate the spindles e, f, including upper spindle gears j meshingwith lower spindle gears k and keyed to the upper and lower spindles e,fat each of the forming stations, the lower gears k meshing withintermediate spur gears m mounted on idler shafts n positioned below andbetween the successive lower spindles f. The power train is driven byconventional motor and chain drive means not shown.

The illustrated machine is of the type in which the spacing b betweenthe side frames c, d is filled by the gears j, k, the forming rolls g, hand other spacing members to be described. This permits assembly of thegears, rolls and spacing members by axially sliding on the spindles e, fas they are inserted through the fixed position side frames 0, d.

Referring to the side view, FIG. 2, since the sheet metal strips to beformed may be of various thicknesses, the side frame assemblies c, d aredesigned to permit the upper spindles e to yield upwardly. As is known,each of the side frame assemblies may have a lower vertical plate p intowhose upper edge are fixedly mounted, midway between the roll stations,round vertical rods q whose upper ends are connected by longitudinal topbars r. Vertically slidable chocks s, which mount the upper spindles e,have concave side edges fitted to permit vertical sliding on the rods'q.Pins t, loosely fitted in vertical bores u in the top bars r, are biaseddownwardly against the checks s by concave spring washers v. I

Commencing with the left side of FIG. 3, if no outboard rolls are to bemounted, each of the spindles e, f may have an outer end rentention capw outward of the frame assembly 0. Describing the typical formingstation illustrated in FIG. 3, inwardly of the frame c,

each shaft e, f has a cylindrical spacer 11; then upper and lower matingroll sets 12, 13 (conveniently formed of vertically divided elements, asis conventional) are secured by keys 14 so they will be driven by thespindles. Adjacent to these conventional roll sets 12, 13, in thepresent invention a lateral shift path is provided, made up by one or aseries of adjacent cylindrical spacer bushings 16; these extend theentire width from the conventional fixed position roll sets l2, 13 tobear against the vertical, inward-facing surfaces 17 ofconstant positionupper and lower rolls as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The constant position roll portions l8, 19 are keyed to the spindles e,f. They are not of themselves sufficient to form the desired profile;they must be supplemented by axially shiftable roll portions, to bedescribed hereafter. At the right side of these roll portions 18, 19 maybe cylindrical spacers 20, 21 of the width required to abut against thegears j, k. Thus the entire space 12 between the side frames c, d isfilled by the elements described; and the axial position of the constantposition roll portions 18, 19 is maintained by the bearing against theirfaces 17 of the bushings 16 closest thereto.

To form the standing S cleat strips of varying widths, the axiallyconstant rolls 18, 19 are supplemented by cooperating axially shiftableupper and lower roll portions 23, 24. I have found that the axiallyshiftable roll portions 23, 24 need not be keyed to the spindles e, f,especially if they present to the 'sheet metal strips a lesser surfacearea than the constant position roll portions 18, 19. Hence, in theembodiment illustrated, the shiftable rolls 23, 24 are simply mountedon'the lateral shift paths provided by the spacer bushings 16. As bestseen in FIG. 4, each of the shiftable rolls 23, 24 has an enlarged innerdiameter 25, preferably accommodating caged needle bearings 26 which fiton the outer surfaces of the bushings 16. The length of the shift paths(that is, the combined widths of the bushings 16) must at least equalthe total of that width along the bushings 16 occupied in supporting theroll portions 23, 24 plus the lateral distance of which these rollportionsare to be shiftable.

With some increase in complexity, the shiftable roll portions 23, 24need not be free to idle, as in the embodiment shown, but may be powerdriven. Thus, instead of using the bushing 16, a corresponding slidepath length might be provided by a splined collar of the same length,keyed to the spindles e, f. Instead of using needle bearings 26, therolls 23, 24 would have inward projecting splines fitting onto suchspline collar. Spline provisions are conventional, and require noillustration.

To permit free rotation and yet achieve lateral shifting by mechanismwhich is rigidly thrust-resistant, the shiftable upper and lower rollportions 23, 24 are equipped with annular neck parts 28, best seen inFIG. 4, which project axially at their sides opposite the axiallyconstant roll portions 18, 19. These neck parts pass with largeclearance through oversize bores 29 in a laterally shiftable frame plate30, which extends the entire length of the machine, parallel to andintermediate between the frame assembly c, d. It serves to retain allthe shiftable rolls 23, 24 aligned either abutting the constantrollportions 18, 19 or at any chosen spacing therebetween. The frame plate30'also reacts the axial thrust on the shiftable rolls 23, 24, whensheet metal strips pass through the machine.

The shiftable frame plate 30 is best seen in FIG. 1; the solid linesshow it so positioned as to hold said shiftable roll portions 23, 24 ata rather large spacing from the axially constant roll portions l8, 19,while the phantom lines of FIG. 1 show the frame plate 30 fixedlaterally to position the shiftable rolls at an intermediate spacing. InFIG. 4, the phantom lines show the frame plate 30 shifted to bring andhold the shiftable roll portion 23, 24 into abutment against the axiallyconstant rolls 18, 19.

Referring to the enlarged view, FIG. 4, the purpose of the largeoversize frame plate bores 29 is to permit the upper spindle e to adjustits position vertically as sheet metal strips of varying thickness passthrough the machine. This is achieved by flanking the frame plate 30with a pair of slidable thrust washers 32 on the neck part 28 of each ofthe shiftable rolls 23, 24, and securing the assembly by a snap ring 33.So assembled, the neck parts 28 are rotatable within the frame plate 30,transfer axial thrust thereto and are shiftable axially thereby. Theymay be shifted along the shift path made up by the bushings 16, whichends at the inward-facing surfaces 17 of the constant roll portions 18,19.

For lateral shifting of the frame plate 30, mechanism is provided asbest seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring first to FIG. 2, the lower edge ofthe frame plate 30 may rest supportingly on the idler shafts n. It ispositioned by at least two heavy vertical guide plates 35, bolted to oneside of the frame plate 30. The guide plates 35 may be located betweenforming stations inboard of both ends of the machine, as shown in FIG.2. They extend upwardly above the longitudinal top bar r of the sideframe assembly 0, and downwardly below the idler shafts n, havingclearance bores 36 through which these shafts may pass. The upward anddownward projecting portion of the guide plates 35 have internallythreaded parts 38 engaged by lateral, upper and lower threaded shafts 40which project horizontally from conventional upper and lower thrustbushings generally designated 41, secured laterally inward of the topbar r and of a lower vertical plate p of the side frame assembly c. Onthe shafts 40 adjacent to the thrust bushings 41 are sprockets 42. Achain 43 surrounds the four sprockets 42 and is held taunt by aconventional chain tightening device x. A hand wheel 44 is mountedoutstanding from the left end of the shaft 40 shown above in FIG. 3.Turning the hand wheel 44 rotates the threaded shafts 40 simultaneouslyto shift the frame plate 30, as indicated by the phantom lines ofFIG. 1. Thus the shiftable upper and lower roll portions 23, 24 aresimultaneously set to establish and change the width of forming. Otherconventional parallelismmaintaining means to shift the frame plate 30might be substituted.

Mounted on the frame a in advance of the first station of the machine,at a level intermediate between the upper and lower spindles e,f, is afeed table 45 having laterally slotted holes 46 in which guide angleassemblies 47 are mounted. The positions of these may be fixed for theconventional fixed-width roll sets 12, 13 shown to the left of theshiftable-plate 30 in FIG. 1. However, to feed the variable-width rollsets 18, 19, 23, 24 the feed guide spacing must be adjusted as theirforming width is varied. For this purpose, to the forward end of theshiftable frame plate 30 I attach a shiftable guide angle 48, whosespacing from the fixed guide angle 47 at the right side of FIG. 1changes with the movement of the plate 30, as shown by the lines of FIG.1.

Purchasers of machines embodying the present invention which areequipped with variable width forming rolls 18, 19, 23, 24 for formingthe standing S cleat, may also be interested in forming variable widthGovernment locks. With the change illustrated in FIG. 5, the machineheretofore described may be adapted to mount both sets of rolls forforming variable Widths. Instead of the fixed-width upper and lowerrolls sets 12, 13 seen in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 shows a second set ofvariable-width rolls generally designated 50, including upper phantomand lower axially constant roll portions 51, 52, and axially shiftableupper and lower roll portions 53, 54. The shiftable roll portions 53, 54ride on bearings 26 and have neck parts 28 projecting from their sidesopposite the constant position roll portions 51, 52, in the same manneras the shiftable roll portions 23, 24 shown in detail in FIG. 4. Theseneck parts 28, equipped with thrust washers 32 and snap rings 33, extendthrough clearance bores 55 in a second frame plate 56, mounted to theleft of the frame plate 30 heretofore described and bolted to the otherside of the vertical guide plates 35. When the hand wheel 44 is turnedto move the assembled plate frames 30, 56 laterally, the shiftable rolls53, 54 of the second split roll set 50 at the left side thereof will beshifted simultaneously with the roll portions 23, 24 of the formingrolls first described. For this shifting a shift path is made up ofcylindrical spacer bushings 16 which extends the entire distance fromthe axially constant rolls 51, 52 of the second set 50 to the axiallyconstant rolls 18, 19 of such first roll set. The bushings 16 thus serveto space the outer rolls 51, 52, 18, 19 in axially constant position.

Using either of the constructions here shown, the saving of time inadjusting the width of forming is incomparable. The best prior methodrequired inserting C- shaped spacers between and flanking the movablerolls,

all of which had to be removed from all of the spindles before the rollscould be shifted, and then replaced on the spindles to provideresistance to axial thrust. Some further time is saved by the automaticlateral shift of the feed guide provision. These results are attainedwithout appreciable down time for the machine, and without any work by askilled mechanic.

One entirely new result of eliminating C-shaped spacers is that thewidth adjustment provision is infinitely variable. This opens the wayfor rolling channel-like profiles to any desired width increment. Noprior machine for progressive roll forming is known which possesses anyof these advantages.

Modifications, as in the mechanism for lateral shifting of the plates30, 56 and for securing the shiftable rolls thereto while permittingtheir rotation, will from the disclosure hereof be obvious to personshaving ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a roll forming machine in which metal strips are progressivelyformed to a profile, the machine being of the type having at least twoparallel side frames at a substantially fixed spacing, a succession ofpairs of upper and lower powered roll spindles mounted by andperpendicular to and rotatable in said side frames, power train means torotate said spindles, and upper and lower roll sets thereon between saidframes, each set including an axially constant roll and an axiallyshiftable roll, the machine being further of the type in which themembers mounted on the spindles between said frames have a combinedwidth sufficient to fill the spacing therebetween and are assembled onthe spindles by axial sliding as the spindles are inserted,

the improvement by which roll spacings may be changed simultaneously onall spindles, said improvement being characterized in that the membersso mounted on the spindles to fill the spacing between said side framesinclude spacer means to permit axial sliding thereon of the shiftablerolls and to bear edgewise against the constant rolls,

said spacer means providing for each shiftable roll a lateral shift pathwhose length at least equals the sum of that occupied by the shiftableroll portions thereon plus the lateral distance over which the such rollis shiftable,

the improvement being further characterized in havlaterally shiftableframe means parallel and intermediate to said fixed frame assemblies andadjacent to the shiftable rolls,

rotation-permitting means, operable between the shiftable frame meansand the shiftable rolls, to retain said shiftable rolls inthrust-transferring relation to said shiftable frame means, and

means to shift said shiftable frame means,

whereby to shift all said shiftable rolls simultaneously by axialsliding on their spacer means without removing and replacing any spacingmembers from the spindles. 2. In a roll forming machine in which metalstrips are progressively formed to a profile, the machine being of thetype having at least two parallel side frame assemblies at asubstantially fixed spacing, a succession of pairs of upper and lowerpowered roll spindles mounted by and perpendicular to and rotatable insaid frame assemblies, power train means to rotate said spindles, andcomplementary upper and lower forming roll sets thereon, each setincluding an axially constant roll and an axially shiftable roll,

the invention comprising laterally shiftable frame means parallel andintermediate to said fixed frame assemblies and having apertures throughwhich said roll spindles pass, said shiftable frame means being adjacentto the shiftable rolls and remote from the contstant rolls,

means to shift said laterally shiftable frame means,

and

rotation-permitting and thrust transfer means connecting the shiftableframe means and the shiftable rolls,

whereby to establish and change a spacing, common to all of saidspindles, between the shiftable rolls and the constant rolls on thespindles simultaneously.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein the means to shift thelaterally shiftable frame means comprises a plurality of internallythreaded members secured to said laterally shiftable frame means,

threaded shafts engaging each of said internally threaded members andextending to thrust bushings at one of said side frames, and

means to rotate said threaded shafts simultaneously.

4. A roll forming machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the axiallyconstant position roll portions are keyed to the spindles for rotationtherewith, and

the axially shiftable roll portions are free to rotate relative thereto.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2, further characterized in thatthe rotation-permitting means operable between the shiftable frame meansand the shiftable rolls includes I 10 annular neck parts projectingaxially from said shiftable roll sides,

bores through the shiftable frame means through which said neck partsproject, and

retention and thrust-transfer means mounted on said neck parts on bothsides of the shiftable frame means adjacent to the ends of said bores.

6. In a roll forming machine of the type described in claim 5, beingfurther of the type wherein the vertical spacing between each pair ofthe upper and lower spindles may yield increasingly to accommodate thethickness of such metal strips being formed,

the invention as defined in claim 5, and further characterized in thatthe bores through which said neck parts project are of such diameter asto allow such increased vertical spacing of the spindles.

7. In a roll forming machine of the type described in claim 2, beingfurther of the type in which the rolls and other spacing members mountedon the spindles have a combined width sufficient to fill the spacingbetween the side frames, and are assembled thereon by axial sliding asthe spindles are inserted,

the invention as defined in claim 2, and further characterized in thatsuch other members which fill such spindles include spacer meansradially inward of the shiftable rolls, on whose outer surfaces saidshiftable rolls may slide axially, over which such roll is shiftable.

8. In a roll forming machine of the type described in claim 2, beingfurther of the type having on said same spindles, second upper and lowerforming roll sets,

the invention as defined in claim 2, and in which each of said secondroll sets includes a shiftable roll adjacent to the shiftable framemeans and an axially constant roll remote therefrom, together withrotation-permitting and thrust transfer means connecting the shiftableframe means and the shiftable rolls of said second sets,

whereby to shift them axially along the spindles simultaneously with theshifting of the first set of shiftable rolls at the other side of theshiftable frame means.

9. In a roll forming machine as defined in claim 7,

being further of the type having on said same spindles second upper andlower forming roll sets,

the invention as defined in claim 7, and in which each of said secondroll sets includes a shiftable roll adjacent to the shiftable framemeans and an axially constant roll remote therefrom, together withrotation-permitting and thrust transfer means connecting the shiftableframe means and the shiftable rolls of said second sets, furthercharacterized in that the said spacer means are bushings inwardly of theshiftable rolls extending along said spindles from edgewise abutmentagainst the constant roll of said first set to edgewise abutment againstthe constant forming roll sets, roll of said second set. L I whereb toad ust the stu feed osition automati- 10. The invention as defined inclaim 2, together with y J p p a feed guide secured to the laterallyshiftable frame means in advance of the first of said progressive 5cally as the roll spacing is changed.

1. In a roll forming machine in which metal strips are progressivelyformed to a profile, the machine being of the type having at least twoparallel side frames at a substantially fixed spacing, a succession ofpairs of upper and lower powered roll spindles mounted by andperpendicular to and rotatable in said side frames, power train means torotate said spindles, and upper and lower roll sets thereon between saidframes, each set including an axially constant roll and an axiallyshiftable roll, the machine being further of the type in which themembers mounted on the spindles between said frames have a combinedwidth sufficient to fill the spacing therebetween and are assembled onthe spindles by axial sliding as the spindles are inserted, theimprovement by which roll spacings may be changed simultaneously on allspindles, said improvement being characterized in that the members somounted on the spindles to fill the spacing between said side framesinclude spacer means to permit axial sliding thereon of the shiftablerolls and to bear edgewise against the constant rolls, said spacer meansproviding for each shiftable roll a lateral shift path whose length atleast equals the sum of that occupied by the shiftable roll portionsthereon plus the lateral distance over which the such roll is shiftable,the improvement being further characterized in having laterallyshiftable frame means parallel and intermediate to said fixed frameassemblies and adjacent to the shiftable rolls, rotation-permittingmeans, operable between the shiftable frame means and the shiftablerolls, to retain said shiftable rolls in thrust-transferring relation tosaid shiftable frame means, and means to shift said shiftable framemeans, whereby to shift all said shiftable rolls simultaneously by axialsliding on their spacer means without removing and replacing any spacingmembers from the spindles.
 2. In a roll forming machine in which metalstrips are progressively formed to a profile, the machine being of thetype having at least two parallel side frame assemblies at asubstantially fixed spacing, a succession of pairs of upper and lowerpowered roll spindles mounted by and perpendicular to and rotatable insaid frame assemblies, power train means to rotate said spindles, andcomplementary upper and lower forming roll sets thereon, each setincluding an axially constant roll and an axially shiftable roll, theinvention comprising laterally shiftable Frame means parallel andintermediate to said fixed frame assemblies and having apertures throughwhich said roll spindles pass, said shiftable frame means being adjacentto the shiftable rolls and remote from the contstant rolls, means toshift said laterally shiftable frame means, and rotation-permitting andthrust transfer means connecting the shiftable frame means and theshiftable rolls, whereby to establish and change a spacing, common toall of said spindles, between the shiftable rolls and the constant rollson the spindles simultaneously.
 2. In a roll forming machine in whichmetal strips are progressively formed to a profile, the machine being ofthe type having at least two parallel side frame assemblies at asubstantially fixed spacing, a succession of pairs of upper and lowerpowered roll spindles mounted by and perpendicular to and rotatable insaid frame assemblies, power train means to rotate said spindles, andcomplementary upper and lower forming roll sets thereon, each setincluding an axially constant roll and an axially shiftable roll, theinvention comprising laterally shiftable Frame means parallel andintermediate to said fixed frame assemblies and having apertures throughwhich said roll spindles pass, said shiftable frame means being adjacentto the shiftable rolls and remote from the contstant rolls, means toshift said laterally shiftable frame means, and rotation-permitting andthrust transfer means connecting the shiftable frame means and theshiftable rolls, whereby to establish and change a spacing, common toall of said spindles, between the shiftable rolls and the constant rollson the spindles simultaneously.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2,wherein the means to shift the laterally shiftable frame means comprisesa plurality of internally threaded members secured to said laterallyshiftable frame means, threaded shafts engaging each of said internallythreaded members and extending to thrust bushings at one of said sideframes, and means to rotate said threaded shafts simultaneously.
 4. Aroll forming machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the axially constantposition roll portions are keyed to the spindles for rotation therewith,and the axially shiftable roll portions are free to rotate relativethereto.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 2, further characterizedin that the rotation-permitting means operable between the shiftableframe means and the shiftable rolls includes annular neck partsprojecting axially from said shiftable roll sides, bores through theshiftable frame means through which said neck parts project, andretention and thrust-transfer means mounted on said neck parts on bothsides of the shiftable frame means adjacent to the ends of said bores.6. In a roll forming machine of the type described in claim 5, beingfurther of the type wherein the vertical spacing between each pair ofthe upper and lower spindles may yield increasingly to accommodate thethickness of such metal strips being formed, the invention as defined inclaim 5, and further characterized in that the bores through which saidneck parts project are of such diameter as to allow such increasedvertical spacing of the spindles.
 7. In a roll forming machine of thetype described in claim 2, being further of the type in which the rollsand other spacing members mounted on the spindles have a combined widthsufficient to fill the spacing between the side frames, and areassembled thereon by axial sliding as the spindles are inserted, theinvention as defined in claim 2, and further characterized in that suchother members which fill such spindles include spacer means radiallyinward of the shiftable rolls, on whose outer surfaces said shiftablerolls may slide axially, over which such roll is shiftable.
 8. In a rollforming machine of the type described in claim 2, being further of thetype having on said same spindles, second upper and lower forming rollsets, the invention as defined in claim 2, and in which each of saidsecond roll sets includes a shiftable roll adjacent to the shiftableframe means and an axially constant roll remote therefrom, together withrotation-permitting and thrust transfer means connecting the shiftableframe means and the shiftable rolls of said second sets, whereby toshift them axially along the spindles simultaneously with the shiftingof the first set of shiftable rolls at the other side of the shiftableframe means.
 9. In a roll forming machine as defined in claim 7, beingfurther of the type having on said same spindles second upper and lowerforming roll sets, the invention as defined in claim 7, and in whicheach of said second roll sets includes a shiftable roll adjacent to theshiftable frame means and an axially constant roll remote therefrom,together with rotation-permitting and thrust transfer means connectingthe shiftable frame means and the shiftable rolls of said second sets,further characterized in that the said spacer means are bushingsinwardly of the shiftAble rolls extending along said spindles fromedgewise abutment against the constant roll of said first set toedgewise abutment against the constant roll of said second set.